Heavy duty pack handle and method

ABSTRACT

A handle for a container comprising a first handle member and a second handle member that together include spaced protruding connector pegs and spaced peg receivers that mate with each other to clamp the handle onto the container, each of the spaced protruding connector pegs including a terminal end, and the first handle member and the second handle member including a front surface, the front surface of one of the first handle member and the second handle member being flush with the terminal end of the spaced protruding connector pegs extending from an opposite of the first handle member and the second handle member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Nonprovisionalpatent application Ser. No. 16/838,327, filed Apr. 2, 2020, which claimsthe benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/845,587, filed May 9, 2019. All of the above applications areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to heavy duty retail packaging and/or aheavy duty pack handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention involves a heavy duty pack comprising a mainbody including a front, a rear, a bottom, and opposite sides that jointhe front, the rear, and the bottom; a top section including a flatflange with a front panel and a back panel, and angled sections thatjoin the main body to the flat flange, wherein the flat flange includesopposite ends with respective seals adjacent thereto securing the frontpanel and the back panel together adjacent to the opposite ends.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention describedabove includes one or more of the following: the seals are verticallyelongated seals; the seals are oval seals; both the front panel and theback panel of the flat flange include a first outer ply and a secondinner ply, the second inner ply of both the front panel and the backpanel of the flat flange include holes where the seals are formedbetween the first outer ply of both the front panel and the back panel;the seals are laser welded seals; the top section includes a two-pieceplastic handle within the flat flange; the two-piece plastic handleincludes an oval configuration; the two-piece plastic handle includes agrip section with four finger recesses; the two-piece plastic handleincludes a first handle member and a second handle member that togetherinclude spaced protruding connector pegs and spaced peg receivers thatmate with each other to clamp the handle onto the front panel and theback panel of the top section; both the front panel and the back panelof the flat flange include a first outer ply and a second inner ply, andthe pegs extend through both the first outer ply and a second inner plyof the front panel and the first outer ply and a second inner ply of theback panel; and/or the first handle member and the second handle memberinclude rear sides that are affixed to the front panel and the backpanel of the top section to additionally secure the handle to the topsection.

Another aspect of the invention involves a method of manufacturing theheavy duty pack of the aspect of the invention described above, whereinboth the front panel and the back panel of the flat flange include afirst outer ply and a second inner ply, the second inner ply of both thefront panel and the back panel of the flat flange include holes, and themethod comprises aligning the holes of the first outer ply and thesecond inner ply of the flat flange; and sealing the first outer ply ofboth the front panel and the back panel together through the alignedholes of the first outer ply and the second inner ply.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention describedimmediately above includes one or more of the following: sealingincludes laser welding the first outer ply of both the front panel andthe back panel together through the aligned holes of the first outer plyand the second inner ply; the seals are vertically elongated seals; theseals are oval seals; the top section includes a two-piece plastichandle within the flat flange, and the method further comprises addingthe two-piece plastic handle within the flat flange; the two-pieceplastic handle includes an oval configuration; the two-piece plastichandle includes a grip section with four finger recesses; the two-pieceplastic handle includes a first handle member and a second handle memberthat together include spaced protruding connector pegs and spaced pegreceivers, and the method further comprises mating the spaced protrudingconnector pegs and spaced peg receivers with each other, through thefront panel and the back panel of the flat flange, to clamp the handleonto the front panel and the back panel of the top section; and/or thefirst handle member and the second handle member include rear sides, andthe method further comprises affixing the rear sides of the first handlemember and the second handle member to the front panel and the backpanel of the top section to additionally secure the handle to the topsection.

A further aspect of the invention involves a handle for a containercomprising a first handle member and a second handle member thattogether include spaced protruding connector pegs and spaced pegreceivers that mate with each other to clamp the handle onto thecontainer, each of the spaced protruding connector pegs including aterminal end, and the first handle member and the second handle memberincluding a front surface, the front surface of one of the first handlemember and the second handle member being flush with the terminal end ofthe spaced protruding connector pegs extending from an opposite of thefirst handle member and the second handle member.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention describedimmediately above includes one or more of the following: the spacedprotruding connector pegs include a body with a height H and a diameterW, and the ratio of the width W to diameter W is at least 1.2; thespaced protruding connector pegs include a head with a diameter and abody with a diameter, and the diameter of the head is greater than thediameter of the body; the spaced peg receivers each include beveledreceiver projections configured to be urged outwardly by each of thepegs when the first handle member and the second handle member areconnected together; the handle is a two-piece plastic handle having anoval configuration; the handle includes a grip section with four fingerrecesses; and/or the first handle member includes ten spaced protrudingconnector pegs and the second handle member includes ten spaced pegreceivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a heavy duty pack;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the heavy duty pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the heavy duty pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the heavy duty pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the heavy duty pack of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the adjustable cyclic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the heavy duty pack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front-elevational view of an embodiment of a template forthe heavy duty pack shown in FIGS. 1-7.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a first handlemember for the heavy duty pack shown in FIGS. 1-8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the first handle member of FIG. 9taken along lines 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the first handle member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the first handle member of FIG. 9taken along lines 12-12.

FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a second handlemember for the heavy duty pack shown in FIGS. 1-8

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the second handle member of FIG. 13taken along lines 14-14.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the second handle member of FIG.13.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the second handle member of FIG. 13taken along lines 16-16.

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a handlefor the heavy duty pack shown in FIGS. 1-8.

FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is a left elevational view of the handle of FIG. 17, the rightelevational view being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 24 is a rear elevational view of a second handle member of thehandle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 25 is a rear elevational view of a first handle member of thehandle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view of the second handle member of thehandle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view of the second handle member of thehandle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a receiver recess of thesecond handle member of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a peg of the first handlemember of the handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 30 is another cross sectional view of the second handle member ofthe handle of FIG. 17.

FIG. 31 is another cross sectional view of the second handle member ofthe handle of FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-16, an embodiment of a heavy duty pack(“pack”) 110 will be described. The pack 110 may be used, for example,but not by way of limitation, as retail packaging for water softenersalt bars.

The pack 110 includes a front panel 120, a back panel 130, side panels140, 150, and a bottom 160 that are dual plied and are laser welded atedges to form the pack 110. The pack 110 includes an internal cavitythat holds for example, but not by way of limitation, the water softenersalt bars. The pack 110 includes a main body 180 and a top section 190with a flat flange 192 and angled sections 194.

The top section 190 includes vertically elongated oval seals 200 toaffix the front panel 120 and the back panel 130 of the top section 190together, giving the top section 190 the appearance shown andstrengthening the top section 190. FIG. 8 shows vertically elongatedpunch outs/cutouts 210 that, because the top section 190 is dual-plied,form openings in side gussets 220 of the top section 190 behind thefront panel/layer 120 and back panel/layer 130 to allow frontpanel/layer 120 and back panel/layer 130 to bond during laser welding toform the vertically elongated oval seals 200.

The top section 190 further includes two-piece plastic handle 230 inflat flange 192. The plastic handle 230 includes a first handle member240 and a second handle member 250. The first handle member 240 and asecond handle member 250 have a generally oval configuration, andinclude a grip section 260 with four finger recesses 270 along with amain recess 280 for hand grip by a user. The first handle member 240includes a rear 290 with eight spaced rearwardly protruding connectorpegs 300 that mate with eight spaced peg receivers 310 along a rear 320of the second handle member 250 to clamp the handle 230 onto the frontpanel 120 and the back panel 130 of the top section 200. The pegs 300extend through the 2×2 plies of the front panel 120 and the back panel130 of the top section 200 with a cut-out in the front panel 120 and theback panel 130 for the finger recesses 270 and the main recess 280 ofthe handle 230. The rears 290, 320 of the first handle member 240 andthe second handle member 250 may also be affixed to the front panel 120and the back panel 130 of the top section 200 to additionally secure thehandle 230 to the top section 200.

With reference to FIGS. 17-31, another embodiment of a handle 400 foruse in the top section 190 of the pack 110 (or other containers) will bedescribed. Similar elements in the handle 400 to those shown and/ordescribed herein with respect to handle 230 will be identified with thesame reference number, but with an “a” suffix. The description of thehandle 230 is incorporated herein. The handle 400 is similar to thehandle 230, but a first handle member 240 a includes a rear 290 a withten spaced rearwardly protruding connector pegs 410 instead of eightspaced rearwardly protruding connector pegs 300, and a second handlemember 250 a includes a rear 320 a with ten spaced peg receivers 420instead of eight spaced peg receivers 310 along a rear 320. Further, thepegs 410 are wider and shorter than the pegs 300 so that terminal ends430 of the pegs 300 are flush with a front surface 440 of the secondhandle member 250 a. The pegs 410 includes a nail-like cross sectionwith an annular head 450 that is wider (has a greater diameter) than awidth/diameter W of a body 460 and wider than a neck 470 of pegreceiver(s) 420 so when snapping the peg(s) 410 into the peg receiver(s)420, the annular head 450 contacts resilient chamfered/beveled receiverprojections 480, urging them outwardly so that head 450 snaps intorecess 490 of the receiver(s) 420. The body 460 of the pegs 410 includesa height H, and the ratio of the width/diameter W to the height H is atleast 1.2. Upper shelf 500 of the projections 480 locks the head 450into position so that the terminal ends 430 of the pegs 410 are flushwith a front surface 440 of the second handle member 250 a and the pegs410 are prevented from accidentally sliding out of the receiver(s) 420.The wider pegs 410 (ratio of the width/diameter W to the height H of atleast 1.2) and greater number of pegs 410 enables the handle 400 to notrequire adhesive, as used with handle 230, when clamping the handle 400onto the front panel 120 and the back panel 130 of the top section 200.

The figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, whichis done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that canbe included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to theillustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implementedusing a variety of alternative architectures and configurations.Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms ofvarious exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should beunderstood that the various features and functionality described in oneor more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, butinstead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more ofthe other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodimentsare described and whether or not such features are presented as being apart of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of thepresent invention, especially in the following claims, should not belimited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “standard,” “known” and terms ofsimilar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item describedto a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, butinstead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal,or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at anytime in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with theconjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and everyone of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be readas “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group ofitems linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiringmutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as“and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item,elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed inthe singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereofunless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence ofbroadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but notlimited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read tomean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances wheresuch broadening phrases may be absent.

I/We claim:
 1. A handle for a container, comprising: a first handlemember and a second handle member that together include spacedprotruding connector pegs and spaced peg receivers that mate with eachother to clamp the handle onto the container, each of the spacedprotruding connector pegs including a terminal end, and the first handlemember and the second handle member including a front surface, the frontsurface of one of the first handle member and the second handle memberbeing flush with the terminal end of the spaced protruding connectorpegs extending from an opposite of the first handle member and thesecond handle member.
 2. The handle of claim 1, wherein the spacedprotruding connector pegs include a body with a height H and a diameterW, and the ratio of the width W to diameter W is at least 1.2.
 3. Thehandle of claim 1, wherein the spaced protruding connector pegs includea head with a diameter and a body with a diameter, and the diameter ofthe head is greater than the diameter of the body.
 4. The handle ofclaim 1, wherein the spaced peg receivers each include beveled receiverprojections configured to be urged outwardly by each of the pegs whenthe first handle member and the second handle member are connectedtogether.
 5. The handle of claim 1, wherein the handle is a two-pieceplastic handle having an oval configuration.
 6. The handle of claim 1,wherein the handle includes a grip section with four finger recesses. 7.The handle of claim 1, wherein the first handle member includes tenspaced protruding connector pegs and the second handle member includesten spaced peg receivers.